Techno Games
Encyclopedia
Techno Games was BBC Television's Olympic Games for robots. It was a spin-off
from the hugely successful Robot Wars
. The TV series was shown on BBC2 every weekday for a fortnight from the third Monday in March just after Science Week. The series of ten programmes was broadcast on the ten weekdays over two weeks (The first series consisted of five programmes broadcast over five consecutive weekdays). Schools, colleges, individuals and technology clubs competed to break world records, win medals and the grand series prize. For most events life-like movement was required so, for example, in the swimming event propellers were banned in favour of legs, paddles, flippers and fins. When the TV show was cancelled a number of enthusiasts kept the competition going under the banner UK Robotic Games.
Also some of the machines entered attempted to compete in more than one event. For example in Series one Lemming
attempted to compete in the Swimming and the Sprint. In series three Mammoth The Robot competed in an unofficial and unrecognised Tri Athlon (on its own) of Cycling, Swimming and the Sprint whilst Bigger Brother and Typhoon Rover (from the same team that produced Typhoon 2
)competed in the football and the Assault Course.
, Noel Sharkey
, Martin Smith
, Julia Reed
and Simon Scott also worked on Robot Wars. Philippa Forrester
became the host presenter, the technical presenters and judges were Noel Sharkey
and Martin Smith
who were also judges on Robot Wars and Simon Scott who had built the robot Razer
. The more memorable robots included Skeletron, a rope climbing robot, Phoebius, a solar powered robot and Cycler, a presentation robot, that went on to visit thousands of schools. Skeletron, the gas powered natural rope climber so impressed the NESTA award judges that his builders Matt and Ray Tait won an all expenses paid trip to NASA in Florida.
Some of the teams that took part also took part in Robot Wars although the machines were modified to remove weapons (Some exceptions were made for objects like scoops and wedges), and to apply different bodywork, thus going under the guise of a different robot.
Japan reports by Julia Reed
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
from the hugely successful Robot Wars
Robot Wars (TV series)
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
. The TV series was shown on BBC2 every weekday for a fortnight from the third Monday in March just after Science Week. The series of ten programmes was broadcast on the ten weekdays over two weeks (The first series consisted of five programmes broadcast over five consecutive weekdays). Schools, colleges, individuals and technology clubs competed to break world records, win medals and the grand series prize. For most events life-like movement was required so, for example, in the swimming event propellers were banned in favour of legs, paddles, flippers and fins. When the TV show was cancelled a number of enthusiasts kept the competition going under the banner UK Robotic Games.
Events
Not all the events appeared in all of the series.- Assault Course
- Cycling
- Football
- Gymnastics
- High Jump
- Long Jump
- Micromouse (Wall following)
- Micromouse (Maze solving)
- Relay Cars
- Rocket Cars and Funny Cars
- Shot Putt
- Solar Challenge Cars
- Tug-of-War
- Rope Climbing (Natural movement-arms and legs)
- Rope Climbing (Artificial movement-wheels and rollers)
- Sprint (Two, three, four, six and eight legged walkers)
- Sumo
- Swimming
- Water Polo
- Outdoor Events (Penalty kick, Shot Put)
Machines and Teams
The teams that took part ranged from established Robot Wars competitors (both successful and unsuccessful) to Family Teams and Schools.Also some of the machines entered attempted to compete in more than one event. For example in Series one Lemming
Lemming
Lemmings are small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic, in tundra biomes. They are subniveal animals, and together with voles and muskrats, they make up the subfamily Arvicolinae , which forms part of the largest mammal radiation by far, the superfamily Muroidea, which also includes rats,...
attempted to compete in the Swimming and the Sprint. In series three Mammoth The Robot competed in an unofficial and unrecognised Tri Athlon (on its own) of Cycling, Swimming and the Sprint whilst Bigger Brother and Typhoon Rover (from the same team that produced Typhoon 2
Typhoon 2
Typhoon 2 was a robot in the UK television series Robot Wars, noteworthy for being the final champion of the show before it was cancelled. It was a full-body spinner with cutting claws. In two battles in series 7, which it competed in, it knocked out the arena wall, causing the match to restart...
)competed in the football and the Assault Course.
People
Most of the people on Techno Games Philippa ForresterPhilippa Forrester
Philippa Forrester is an English television and radio presenter, producer and author. Having presented shows such as Tomorrow's World, The Heaven and Earth Show and Robot Wars, she now makes wildlife programmes with her husband, Charlie Hamilton James.-Education:Forrester was educated at Westgate...
, Noel Sharkey
Noel Sharkey
Dr Noel Sharkey FBCS, FIET is a Belfast-born British computer scientist. He is best known to the British public for his appearances as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games, and co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern...
, Martin Smith
Martin Smith (academic)
Martin Smith is Visiting Research Professor in Robotics at the Open University. He is also President of the Cybernetics Society in the UK. Previous positions were Professor at the University of Central England and at the University of East London where he set up the Mobile Robots Research...
, Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Julia Reed is a British television presenter who grew up in Mississippi.Reed is best known as the co-presenter of the British game show Robot Wars from 2000 to 2002. She took over the role from Philippa Forrester since Forrester was unable to participate in the programme due to pregnancy...
and Simon Scott also worked on Robot Wars. Philippa Forrester
Philippa Forrester
Philippa Forrester is an English television and radio presenter, producer and author. Having presented shows such as Tomorrow's World, The Heaven and Earth Show and Robot Wars, she now makes wildlife programmes with her husband, Charlie Hamilton James.-Education:Forrester was educated at Westgate...
became the host presenter, the technical presenters and judges were Noel Sharkey
Noel Sharkey
Dr Noel Sharkey FBCS, FIET is a Belfast-born British computer scientist. He is best known to the British public for his appearances as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games, and co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern...
and Martin Smith
Martin Smith (academic)
Martin Smith is Visiting Research Professor in Robotics at the Open University. He is also President of the Cybernetics Society in the UK. Previous positions were Professor at the University of Central England and at the University of East London where he set up the Mobile Robots Research...
who were also judges on Robot Wars and Simon Scott who had built the robot Razer
Razer (Robot)
Razer is a combat robot that competed on the British television series Robot Wars. It was constructed by Simon Scott and Ian Lewis from Bournemouth; the team later expanded to include webmaster Vincent Blood...
. The more memorable robots included Skeletron, a rope climbing robot, Phoebius, a solar powered robot and Cycler, a presentation robot, that went on to visit thousands of schools. Skeletron, the gas powered natural rope climber so impressed the NESTA award judges that his builders Matt and Ray Tait won an all expenses paid trip to NASA in Florida.
Some of the teams that took part also took part in Robot Wars although the machines were modified to remove weapons (Some exceptions were made for objects like scoops and wedges), and to apply different bodywork, thus going under the guise of a different robot.
Series 1 (2000)
- Host: Ulrika JonssonUlrika JonssonEva Ulrika Jonsson is a Swedish television presenter in the UK, who became famous as a TV-am weather presenter and moved on to present Gladiators and became a team captain of the show Shooting Stars.-Early life:...
- Winner; shot-put event: Laura Moyser-Carr, James Westmoreland
- Technical Presenters: Noel SharkeyNoel SharkeyDr Noel Sharkey FBCS, FIET is a Belfast-born British computer scientist. He is best known to the British public for his appearances as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games, and co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern...
and Martin SmithMartin Smith (academic)Martin Smith is Visiting Research Professor in Robotics at the Open University. He is also President of the Cybernetics Society in the UK. Previous positions were Professor at the University of Central England and at the University of East London where he set up the Mobile Robots Research... - Interviewers: Ed Hall and Sophie BlakeSophie BlakeSophie Blake , is an English television presenter and former model.-Career:Blake studied drama, and then travelled working in bars and restaurants for a few years. She did some modelling, and put a home-made show-reel together which United Sports picked up, and got her interviewing footballers in...
Series 2 (2001)
- Host: Jayne MiddlemissJayne MiddlemissJayne Middlemiss is a London-based British television and radio presenter, originally from Northumberland. She began presenting music television shows such as The O-Zone and Top of the Pops in the mid '90s, before presenting a variety of other television and radio shows, including on BBC 6 Music...
- Technical Presenters: Noel SharkeyNoel SharkeyDr Noel Sharkey FBCS, FIET is a Belfast-born British computer scientist. He is best known to the British public for his appearances as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games, and co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern...
and Martin SmithMartin Smith (academic)Martin Smith is Visiting Research Professor in Robotics at the Open University. He is also President of the Cybernetics Society in the UK. Previous positions were Professor at the University of Central England and at the University of East London where he set up the Mobile Robots Research... - Interviewers: Ed Hall and Liz BonninLiz BonninLiz Bonnin is a French television presenter who has worked on television in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. She currently works for the BBC.-Biography:...
Japan reports by Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Julia Reed is a British television presenter who grew up in Mississippi.Reed is best known as the co-presenter of the British game show Robot Wars from 2000 to 2002. She took over the role from Philippa Forrester since Forrester was unable to participate in the programme due to pregnancy...
Series 3 (2002)
- Host: Philippa ForresterPhilippa ForresterPhilippa Forrester is an English television and radio presenter, producer and author. Having presented shows such as Tomorrow's World, The Heaven and Earth Show and Robot Wars, she now makes wildlife programmes with her husband, Charlie Hamilton James.-Education:Forrester was educated at Westgate...
- Technical Presenters: Noel SharkeyNoel SharkeyDr Noel Sharkey FBCS, FIET is a Belfast-born British computer scientist. He is best known to the British public for his appearances as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games, and co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern...
and Martin SmithMartin Smith (academic)Martin Smith is Visiting Research Professor in Robotics at the Open University. He is also President of the Cybernetics Society in the UK. Previous positions were Professor at the University of Central England and at the University of East London where he set up the Mobile Robots Research... - Interviewers: Andy CollinsAndy Collins (television)Andy Collins is a British television personality. -Career in brief:Andy Collins was an active member of the British Army.During the 1990s, he presented Game Over, a show on BSkyB's short-lived computer & technology channel .tv...
, Liz BonninLiz BonninLiz Bonnin is a French television presenter who has worked on television in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. She currently works for the BBC.-Biography:...
and Simon Scott
Series 4 (2003)
- Host: Philippa ForresterPhilippa ForresterPhilippa Forrester is an English television and radio presenter, producer and author. Having presented shows such as Tomorrow's World, The Heaven and Earth Show and Robot Wars, she now makes wildlife programmes with her husband, Charlie Hamilton James.-Education:Forrester was educated at Westgate...
- Technical Presenters: Noel SharkeyNoel SharkeyDr Noel Sharkey FBCS, FIET is a Belfast-born British computer scientist. He is best known to the British public for his appearances as an expert on the BBC 2 television series Robot Wars and Techno Games, and co-hosts Bright Sparks, a science and engineering challenge series, for BBC Northern...
and Martin SmithMartin Smith (academic)Martin Smith is Visiting Research Professor in Robotics at the Open University. He is also President of the Cybernetics Society in the UK. Previous positions were Professor at the University of Central England and at the University of East London where he set up the Mobile Robots Research... - Interviewers: Andy CollinsAndy Collins (television)Andy Collins is a British television personality. -Career in brief:Andy Collins was an active member of the British Army.During the 1990s, he presented Game Over, a show on BSkyB's short-lived computer & technology channel .tv...
and Simon Scott
- Commentator for all series: Barry DaviesBarry DaviesBarry George Davies MBE is a British sports commentator. He has covered a wide range of sports in a long career, primarily for the BBC.-Broadcasting career:...